Category Archives: Erudition & Culture

Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS Public Benefit Corporation) announced the successful completion of their Phase 2 study (MP18) in Europe. This open-label study examined the feasibility and safety of using MDMA capsules, combined with psychotherapy, to treat adults with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Endevica Bio, a company specializing in peptide-based drugs, announced positive results from a recent study on their novel weight-loss treatment. This study, conducted on rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO), utilized their MC4R agonist compound A07D.

Researchers from MIT, the Broad Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an AI tool called Tyche to address a key limitation in current medical image analysis. While existing AI models can identify potential diseases or abnormalities in images, they typically provide only one answer. This doesn’t account for the inherent uncertainty in image interpretation, which can be crucial for informed clinical decision-making.

The pharmaceutical industry is at a critical juncture. Leading companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson are facing a period of patent expirations for their blockbuster drugs. This “patent cliff” threatens billions of dollars in revenue in the coming years.

A large-scale study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found no causal link between acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, such as autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. This research, published in the journal JAMA, is the largest of its kind to address this question.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center are showing positive progress in developing a personalized vaccine for liver cancer. This early-stage clinical trial offers a potential new approach to treating this deadly disease.

A recent clinical trial funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) shows promise for treating a rare and painful genetic disease called Arterial Calcification Due to Deficiency of CD73 (ACDC). This is the first potential effective treatment for the condition.

A University of Liverpool project has received a significant boost in its fight against major diseases. Unitaid, a global health organization, awarded over £6 million to the initiative, titled LONGEVITY. This project focuses on developing long-acting treatments for tuberculosis, malaria, and hepatitis C, specifically targeting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Cadrenal Therapeutics’ Tecarfarin Scores Orphan Drug Designation for Preventing Blood Clots in Heart Assist Device Patients
Cadrenal Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative blood thinners, recently announced a significant development for their late-stage drug Tecarfarin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to Tecarfarin for preventing blood clots in patients with implanted mechanical heart assist devices.

Every year, the issue of executive compensation in Big Pharma comes under close scrutiny. This year is no different, as publicly traded companies reveal the total compensation packages for their CEOs and top executives in 2023. Here’s a breakdown of what some of the industry’s leaders took home.